Season preview

La Costa Canyon High juniors Sydney Wennerstrom and Michaela McNaught-Davis Hess have taken a championship approach ever since they joined the Mavericks gymnastics team two years ago.

In their freshman season, the two classmates became teammates who helped La Costa Canyon win its first San Diego Section crown. Then they contributed to a repeat title last year.

Now, as upperclassmen, Wennerstrom and McNaught-Davis Hess inherit the role of team veterans.

“It’s been so rewarding,” McNaught-Davis Hess said. “It’s just been real nice being on the team, and coming off two championships, we’re coming to the season with confidence.”

The Mavericks have lost both section optional all-around champion Natalie Jaynes and compulsory all-around winner Kristina Scheufler from last year’s team. But then they also had to regroup last year after their first title team set a record with 225.95 points in the section meet.

“Some people said last year, ‘You had so many kids graduate in 2012, what’s 2013 going to look like?’ ” said La Costa Canyon coach Jessica Garrett, whose squad has eight returning varsity letter winners this season. “What I love about our team is we have created a lot of depth. Our seniors always lead the pack, and there are underclassmen training to become those seniors.”

McNaught-Davis Hess placed sixth place in compulsory floor exercise at last season’s meet (9.50) and had an even higher score during the regular season (9.65). Her next best event is the beam while also doing the bars and floor exercise in all-around scoring.

“Michaela is a great competitor,” Wennerstrom said. “She always gives her best, and she has great technique. She’s very precise and that gives her an edge.”

Wennerstrom, who does all-around competition as well, finished third in the compulsory beam (9.70) and fourth in the bars (9.65) in the section meet last season.

“Sydney is awesome,” McNaught-Davis Hess said. “She’s a really good gymnast, and she’s always excited and always getting the team pumped. She’s great to be around.”

In the process, Wennerstrom has been known to bring a lighthearted side to the team.

“I definitely have a sense of humor, just making the team laugh and having a lot of fun,” she said. “It’s high school, so you’re supposed to have fun and in competition not let the pressure get to us.”

Heading the Mavericks in the optional events is senior Alex Deng, who placed eighth all-around in last season’s section meet. Junior Kaylee Helmbacher and freshman Grace Azinger are also candidates in the optional events.

From La Costa Canyon’s first title team, Terra Girvin has returned as an assistant coach this season while attending MiraCosta College.

“We just have to keep working hard and putting in the best effort,” Wennerstrom said. “As long as everyone does that, we’ll have a really successful season.”